I'm planning a new room in my basement. No windows at all, and only one door, so light isolation is going to be pretty darn good. I'm wondering if there will be any problems with HVAC ductwork and sound travelling to the rest of the house through it. I know I've annoyed my wife when I work on the furnace (just turning on the humidifier makes her ask what the **** I'm doing), so it seems like it could be an issue.

Even now, my temporary room (also in the basement) suffers from lack of thermal control. The thermostat is on the first floor, and seems to be in the warmest room in the house.

Is there a reasonable technique for acoustic isolation in ductwork? Is there a small unit (like a heat pump) I can duct into the room and exhaust through a nearby window?